Cristoforo de Rossi

Cristoforo de Rossi (1045-) was the Lord of Milan from 1116, succeeding Giorgio de Rossi.

Biography
Cristoforo de Rossi was the second son of Giorgio de Rossi and his wife Jacopa, and was the second-in-line to the lordship of Milan after his brother Bernardo de Rossi. At first, he was not very promising, as he had little notion as to how to command an army and was neither noble nor nefarious. However, in 1096 his brother Bernardo was killed in battle and he took his place as the heir apparent. In 1116 he succeeded his father as Lord of Milan and Genoa upon his death and oversaw a series of campaigns against the rebellious neighbors of Milan. Cristoforo had started waging wars with the Canton of Bern during his pre-regnal years when he was merely the heir presumptive, and he was responsible for the conquest of Switzerland and the Burgundian city of Dijon. Rossi was a Guelph party supporter, allying with the Papal States and Republic of Venice against the Norman Kingdom of Sicily (who slew his brother Bernardo at Cagliari in 1096) and having the ability to fight against the Holy Roman Empire or the Kingdom of France should either of them implement their designs on the control of Italy. Under Duke Cristoforo's rule, Milan was at the forefront of the disparate city-states of Italy, and Cristoforo was the Pope's favorite ruler. Pope Gelasius II conferred the title of Duke of Milan, Genoa, and Corsica upon him at his coronation in 1116 personally. Milan also gained influence in the College of Cardinals through Evio Perego and Giuliano de Madia.